Cardiff vs Brentford Prediction & Betting Tips - Championship

Prediction published on 26/02/2020, 03:55  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 26/02/2020 at 18:22 in Championship Prediction

Two teams limping from defeats face off in the Championship this weekend when Cardiff City host Brentford. The Bluebirds, 10th in the table, lost 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest in midweek, their second successive league loss. Brentford, meanwhile, holding a playoff spot in fifth place, also failed to pick up any points from their Tuesday night game as they lost 2-1 at Luton. They were played off the park by Forest, but Cardiff are still fearsome foes at the Cardiff City Stadium. That defeat means that they have the joint-lowest number of home defeats (two) in the division. Two is still plenty to take encouragement from. Plus, Cardiff have conceded at least one goal in 71 percent of their home matches. Conceding at least one goal is something Brentford can relate to - they've done it in each of their last seven league matches. It has contributed to a run of form that has seen them win only two of their last eight Championship matches; a streak that includes no wins from their last four outings. 

Whether Brentford deserve more than they have received is debatable. They were clearly the better side against Luton, yet failed to take their chances. It was no surprise to see them create more as they've done this in most matches this season. Averaging 14.4 shots per game with average possession of 55.5 percent, Brentford have the tools to beat their rivals. They score plenty of goals (only West Brom have scored more than their 57) but these tend to come in bundles against lower-table opposition. Pitted against promotion rivals, Brentford struggle to kill off and keep out opponents. Their last top-flight season being in the '40s, some may interpret their big-game troubles as the manifestation of an inferiority complex. Their last two trips to Cardiff ended in defeat, yet we believe that Brentford can beat a Cardiff team that has only picked up one victory from their last six home games.